Tottenham Hotspur close in on first January signing as club strike £13million agreement

Tottenham Hotspur have reached an agreement in principle with Santos for Brazilian left-back Souza, talkSPORT understands.

The total package for the 19-year-old is estimated to be worth €15million (£13m).

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Souza is expected to jet in to north London and undergo a medical this weekend or, at the latest, early next week.

The Brazilian will join Tottenham on a five-year contract.

He will also become the club’s first signing of the January window.

Souza’s impending arrival will give Tottenham some much-needed assistance on the left side of defence.

Regular left-back Destiny Udogie has not featured since December 2 and is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Djed Spence, a right-back, has been forced to deputise on the left side of the back four in Udogie’s absence.

Although Udogie remains sidelined, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has enjoyed a defensive boost thanks to the return of Ben Davies after he overcame a hamstring injury suffered while on international duty with Wales last October.

Souza has made just 38 first team appearances for Santos, 29 of which came last term.

Tim Vickery’s expert view on Souza

However, as South American football expert Tim Vickery noted on talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Baker show, the teenager gained a wealth of experience that belies his youthful age given the expectations of Santos’ fan base.

When asked if Souza would be good business for Tottenham, Vickey replied: “Terrific business. I like it very much, a good left-back.

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“Physically strong, skilful, a good footballer. Can defend, can attack.

“His first season was really difficult because Santos were fighting against relegation.

“It’s a tough ask, Santos, because you’ve got all of that history and tradition of Pele.

“It represents a small city in Brazil, so they’re really up against it. It’s a tough support base to play in front of and he’s done really, really well.

“It seems he wants Tottenham and I’d be very happy to see him come in, maybe not immediately.

“He’s on Ancelotti’s radar screen as a left-back for Brazil, so I think he’s very, very promising indeed.”